Transfer applying machine



1967 H. E. SCHLOTTHAUER 3,306,807

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Feb. 28, 1967 H. E. SCHLOTTHAUER 3,306,857

TRANSFER APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet I NVEN TOR.

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TRANSFER APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 28, 1967 H. E. SCHLOTTHAUER 3,305,807

TRANSFER APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @WZ%MS United States Patent ice 3,306,807 TRANSFER APPLYING MACHINE Herman E. Schlotthauer, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to The Meyercord Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 549,111 20 Claims. (Cl. 156-541) This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 245,520, filed December 18, 1962.

This invention relates to a manually operated machine for applying indicia to a group of articles and more particularly relates to a manually operated stamping machine for simultaneously aflixing heat release type decalcomania transfers to packages of cigarettes contained in a carton.

Various types of automatic stamping machines have I been developed for applying revenue or tax stamps to cigarette packages in accordance with various state or municipal regulations. Such machines, while being satisfactory for use by large tobacco distributors, are not practical for the smaller distributor where a comparatively small volume of cigarettes is handled. This is due to the complexity and higher operational and service costs involved in the use of an automatic machine.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel manually operated stamping machine for simultaneously applying a series of revenue indicia to packages of cigarettes in a carton, which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stamping machine of the foregoing character which is adapted to simultaneously transfer a series of revenue stamp type decalcomanias from a continuous web thereof to packages of cigarettes in a carton, wherein a shiftable carton support is combined with either a transfer means or with a web support for transferring another series of decalcomanias to another carton.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stamping machine of the foregoing character in which a shiftable carriage is provided for shifting a carton of cigarettes and the web of material having the rows of decalcomanias thereon, and in which novel means is provided for indexing the carriage With respect to the fixed transferring means in order to permit transferring of an additional set of decalcomanias to another carton of cigarettes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a stamping machine of the foregoing character a floating tension bar for maintaining the web of material upon which the decalcomanias are carried under tension to assure rapid separation of the web from the transferring means after .the web has been deflected into engagement with the transferring means and released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel heater bar construction 'adapted for use in a stamping machine of the foregoing character, wherein a removable heating element is utilized in conjunction with a channelshaped heater bar and novel means is provided for releasably securing the heating element to the bar.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manually operated stamping machine comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1 and illustrating in full and dotted lines the various operating positions of the shiftable carriage portion of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the machine;

3,306,807 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the machine, partially in section, taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the heater bar of the machine as seen substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4, the rear cover of the bar being removed for clarity;

FIG. 7 is a perspective vie-w of the removable heater element employed in the heater bar illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view of the heater bar and heating element as taken along the line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 10 with portions in section, as seen along the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

Briefly described, the present invention involves a manually operated machine for simultaneously aflixing a set of indicia arranged in rows on a web of material to a group of articles arranged in side-by-side relation in a container. The various features of the present invention will be described in conjunction with a stamping machine for simultaneously applying a set of heat release type decalcomanias having revenue indicia or the like thereon to the exposed ends of packages of cigarettes in an opened carton thereof.

Because of the fact that the foregoing type of revenue stamps are usually supplied in rolls with the stamps arranged in transverse rows of fifteen stamps per row, the present machine further contemplates the provision of a novel shiftable carriage which serves to support the roll of stamps and the opened carton of cigarettes for lateral shifting movement with respect to a fixed transferring means, in this instance a heater bar. Alternatively, the shiftable carriage may support the cigarette carton and the transferring means for lateral movement relative to a fixed support for the stamp roll.

Inasmuch as the usual cigarette carton contains ten packages of cigarettes arranged in two side-by-side groups of five packages each, the present stamping machine further contemplates the provision of novel indexing means for laterally positioning the carriage in three predetermined positions to permit the stamping of three cartons of cigarettes from two full rows of stamps before it is necessary to shift the web to bring two new rows of stamps into transfer position. Such indexing means, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a fixed slotted plate mounted at the rear of the machine and a roller mounted on the carriage and movable into engagement with each slot on lateral shifting of the carriage for indexing the latter with respect to the fixed heater bar which extends transversely of the carriage. In another embodiment, the indexing means comprises a grooved slide rod on the carriage which cooperates with a detent in a stationary bearing.

A novel heater'construction is also employed in the present stamping machine, such heater including an elongated heater element that is removably held in nested relation at the rear of a channel-shaped heater bar and between the flanges and adjacent the web thereof. A plurality of locking pins extend between the flanges of the heater bar, and offset cam portions are provided on the pins which are movable into engagement with the heater element upon rotation of the pins for releasably securing the heater element to the heater bar.

Because of the fact that the revenue stamps or decalcomanias are carried on a web which is formed into a roll, the present machine further contemplates the provision of a novel floating tension bar which rests on the web carrying the stamps and maintains the web tensioned to assure a snap release of the web fro-m the heater bar after a set of stamps have been applied to a carton.

In FIGS. 19 a stamping machine 16, comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated. The machine comprises a base or plate 11 having counter-sunk openings 12 at the corners thereof for receiving bolts or screws which rigidly secure the machine 10 to a table or other work surface.

Mounted on the plate 11 are support means in the form of a pair of laterally spaced upstanding posts 13 and 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The posts 13 and 14 are mounted on the plate 11 at the left and right side edges thereof, indicated at 17 and 18, respectively, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, and somewhat rearwardly of the forward edge, indicated at 20, of the plate 11. The rear edge of the base plate 11 is indicated at 21. In the present instance, the posts or standards 13 and 14 are formed from sheet metal bent into rectangular-shaped housings. A pair of outwardly extending flanges 22 are provided at the lower ends of each post for receiving sheet metal screws 23, or the like, which secure the posts to the upper surface of the plate 11. The upper ends of the housings 13 and 14 are closed by sheet metal covers 25 and 26, respectively.

Extending laterally between the posts 13 and 14 is a cylindrical support bar 27 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The support bar 27 is secured at its ends to the posts 13 and 14, as by fasteners 28 (FIG. 2) which extend through openings in the outer side walls of the posts and into threaded openings in the ends of the bar 27.

Mounted on the bar 27 is a carriage 30 which includes a front or trough portion 31 and a connected rear or tray portion 32. The carriage 30 is slidably connected to the bar 27, in this instance, by means of a pair of laterally spaced tubular bearings 33 (FIG. 4) which are secured to the underside of the trough portion 31 by means of U-shaped brackets 34.

The trough portion 31 is adapted to receive and retain a series of articles arranged in a group in side-by-side relation, in this instance a carton of cigarettes C containing the usual ten packages of cigarettes, each indicated at 35. To this end, the trough 31 includes a bottom wall 37 and upstanding laterally spaced side walls 38 which serve as locating abutments for a carton of cigarettes placed on the trough portion 31. In order to facilitate insertion of a previously opened carton of cigarettes C in the trough 31, the front edges, indicated at 41, of the side walls 38 may be bent outwardly.

The rear or tray portion 32 of the carriage 30 includes a bottom wall 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4), upstanding longitudinally extending side walls 43, an upstanding laterally extending end wall 44, and an intermediate upstanding laterally extending wall 46 spaced forwardly from the wall 44. The side walls 43, end wall 44 and intermediate wall 46 together define a compartment or bin 47 (FIG. 4) for receiving a roll, indicated at 48, of stamps or decalcomanias 50, which are releasably carried on a web of material 51, such as wax coated paper.

As previously mentioned, the indicia or stamps 54) are of the heat release type, and, in this instance, are releasable from the paper web 51 by a coating of heat softenable wax interposed between the paper and the stamps. The stamps 50 are arranged on the web 51 in longitudinal and laterally spaced rows, there being fifteen equidistantly spaced stamps in each lateral row. The design portion of each stamp 50 is imprinted with appropriate revenue indicia, and each stamp is covered with an outermost thermoplastic adhesive which causes the stamp to adhere to a cigarette pack-age when the stamp is pressed against the package and heated. The manner in which heat is applied to the paper web 51 will be described more fully hereinafter.

Each roll of stamps 48 is mounted on a central tubular member 52, the ends of which terminate in the plane of the side edges of the roll 48 and inwardly of the side walls 43. The roll 43 thus rests on and frictionally engages the bottom Wall 42 of the bin 47. The roll also frictionally engages the intermediate wall 46 when the roll is being unwound. Vertical slots 53 (FIGS. 1 and 4) are provided in the side Walls 43 to facilitate removal of the tubular member 52 when the latter is empty.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, when a roll of stamps 48 is mounted in the compartment 47, the free end of the web extends forwardly and generally horizontally over the upper edge, indicated at 54 (FIG. 4), of the intermediate wall 46 and thence extends generally horizontally over a first laterally extending guide roll 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is rotatably mounted at its ends in the side walls 43. In order to facilitate free passage of the web over the edge 54, the latter may be covered with an anti-friction material, such as Teflon or the like.

After passing over the roll 56, the web 51 thereafter extends under a second lateral guide roll 57 at a point somewhat rear-wardly and below the bottom wall 37 of the trough portion 31 (FIG. 4). Upon passing around the second guide roll 57, the web 51 extends vertically upwardly and thence passes over a web-engaging means including a guide in the form of an arcuate rearwardly extending shield or 'baflle 58 (FIGS. 1 and 4) which is rigidly secured to the side walls 38 of the trough 31. The shield 58 is provided with at least two pairs of upraised pegs or studs 61 at opposite sides of the shield which are adapted to project into perforations or openings 62 in the lateral side edges of the web 51. The shield 58 thus serves to maintain a portion, indicated at 63 (FIG. 4), of the web 51 in a vertical plane, as it extends upwardly from the guide roll 57.

As previously mentioned, the stamps 50 are of the heatrelease type and thus the machine 10 includes transferring means in the form of a laterally extending heater bar 66 (FIG. 4) as a source of heat for softening the wax layer on the web 51. The heater bar 66 also serves to activate the thermoplastic layer which covers the stamps to effect adherence of the latter to the exposed ends of the cigarette packages 35 when pressed into engagement therewith.

As best seen in FIGS. 6-9, inclusive, in conjunction with FIG. 4, the heater bar 66 is secured at its ends to the posts 13 and 14 so as to extend laterally of the carriage 30 and in a vertically aligned position with the packages of cigarettes 35 in a carton C and somewhat rearwardly of the vertically extending portion 63 of the web 51.

According to the present invention, the heater bar 66 preferably comprises an elongated extruded aluminum channel arranged with its base or web 67 disposed in a vertical plane and its flanges 68 extending horizontally rearwardly toward the tray portion 32 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. The front face, indicated at 71, of the channel 66 is provided with a plurality of forwardly extending rectangular shaped projecting portions or pads 72. In the present instance, ten pads 72 are provided and arranged in two tiers of five laterally spaced pads each. The horizontal and vertical spacing of the pads 72 is substantially the same as that of the arrangement of the packages of cigarettes 35 in a carton C. Thus, all ten packages of cigarettes may be simultaneously stamped in one operation of the machine. In order to assure better adherence of the stamps, the forward or outer surface, indicated at 73 (FIG. 9) of each pad 72 may be formed or milled to a slight convex or outwardly bulged configuration.

The heater bar 66 includes a removable heating element 76 which is adapted to be removed from the channel portion of the heater bar 66 for purposes of inspection or replacement. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6-9, inclusive, the removable heater element 76 comprises a strip of electrically resistive material 77 (FIGS. 4 and 7) sandwiched between layers of insulating material 78, such as mica, asbestos, or the like. The heating material 77 and insulation 78 are enclosed in a sheet metal channel 79 which maintains the parts in assembled relation.

The width and thickness of the heating element 76 is such that the latter will nest between the flanges 68 of the heater bar 66 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, so that a portion of the legs 68 extend beyond the outer or rear surface of the element 76. A pair of terminals 81 and 82 are connected internally to the ends of the resistance material 77 to permit the application of current to the element for heating the bar 66. The open or rear side of the channel 66 may be closed by an elongated housing 83 (FIGS. 1 and 4).

A suitable thermostatic switch 84 having a pair of terminal posts 86 and 87 and an adjustment shaft 88 may be mounted on the top surface of the heater bar 66 for controlling the period of energization of the heating element 76 and thus the operating temperature of the bar 66.

In order to permit removal of the element 76, the heater bar 66 is provided with means for remova-bly retaining the element 76 in nested relation in the channel. Such means in the present instance comprises a plurality of rotatable pins 91 which extend transversely of the channel 66 and through aligned vertical openings 92 (FIG. 8) in the flanges 68. Each pin 91 includes a bent or handle portion 93 at its upper end to facilitate manipulation of the pin and a centrally bent or offset portion 94 (FIGS. 8 and 9). Manipulation of the handle portion 93 and rotation of the pins 91 thus causes the offset portions 94- to cam the element 76 into engagement with the inner surface of the web 67, thereby assuring good heat conductance between the element 76 and the bar 66.

With the foregoing construction, installation or removal of the heater element 76 is readily accomplished by first demounting the heater bar 66 from the supports 13 and 14. This initially requires removal of a pair of screws 96 (FIG. 6) which secure the housing 83 to the rear of the heater bar 66 and the latter to a pair of laterally extending straps 97 affixed to the posts 13 and 14. After the bar 66 has been demounted from the machine, the heater element 76 may be readily separated from the bar 66 by manipulating the handle portions 93 of the pins 91 in a direction to rotate the cam portions 94 away from the adjacent surface of the element 76. The unlocked position of a pin 91 is illustrated in full lines in FIG. 9 and in dotted lines in FIG. 8. Its locked position .15 illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 9 and in full lines in FIG. 8. With all of the pins 91 in their unlocked position, the element 76 may be readily shifted endwise out of the channel 66 and replaced with a new element if necessary. Installation of the heater bar 66 with the heating element 76 in place is achieved by a reversal of the above steps.

As previously mentioned, control of the operating temperature of the element 76 and consequently of the heating bar 66 is achieved by the thermostatic switch 84. Such adjustment is achieved by rotating the shaft 88- in an appropriate direction which in turn controls the length of the periods during which the heater element 76 is energized. Electrically, the switch 84 is placed in series with the heater element 76 by connections (not shown) between the respective terminals 86-87 and 81-82. In addition, the switch 84 is in circuit with a circuit breaker (not shown) mounted in the post 14 and a main control switch 97 (FIG. 1) mounted on the cover 26 of the post 14. An indicator light 98 (FIG. 1) is mounted on the cover 26 to visually indicate that the main control switch 97 is closed.

Because of the fact that there are five heating pads 72 in each lateral tier and that the stamps 50 are supplied in a roll arranged with fifteen stamps in each row, the number of stamps 50 thus being a small multiple of the number of heating pads 72, three cartons of cigarettes containing ten packages 35 may be stamped from two complete rows of stamps 50 before it is necessary to shift the web 51. To this end, novel indexing means, indicated generally at 100, is provided for accurately indexing the carriage 30 and consequently the web of stamps 51 carried thereby with respect to the heater pads 72. As best seen in FIGS. 2-5, inclusive, the indexing means 100 comprises a flattened channel-shaped bracket having a plate-like web portion 101 and upstanding end wall-s 102 and 103. The plate portion 101 is secured as by screws 104 to the base plate 11 at a point immediately rearward of the tray portion 32, and three equidistantly laterally spaced recesses or slots 106, 107 and 108, reading from left to right in FIGS. 2 and 3, are formed in the plate portion 101.

Cooperating with the slots 106-108, is a roller 111 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 112 secured to the rear end wall 44 of the carriage 30 overlying the channel plate portion 101. The roller 111 has a diameter such as to extend into the slots 106, 107, or 108 for simultaneously contacting the exposed upper surface of the base plate 11 and the adjacent edges of one of the slots to thereby laterally index the carriage 30 with respect to the pads 72. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate portion 101 is mounted on the base plate 11 so that when the roller 111 is seated, for example, in the slot 106, the pads 72 will be in alignment with one set of stamps 50a on the vertical portion 63 of the web 51. Thus, inward movement of a carton of cigarettes from the full line position thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 to the dotted line position will cause the exposed ends of the cigarette packages 35 to initially engage the vertically extending portion 63 of the web to thus deflect the latter into engagement with the pads 72 to effect a transfer of the set of stamps 50a to the exposed ends of the cigarette packages 35. Upon withdrawal of the carton C from the portion 63 of the web, the operator laterally shifts the carriage 30 toward the right, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, to cause the roller 111 to seat in the next adjacent slot 107. With the roller 111 seated in the slot 107, the next adjacent set of stamps, indicated at 50b, will be in alignment with the pads 72 in readiness to be afiixed to another carton of cigarettes upon inward movement of the carton on the trough portion 31. The carriage 30 may, of course, be shifed laterally after a carton of cigarettes has been placed on the trough portion 31. Because the carton-supporting trough portion 31 is a unitary part of the laterally shiftable carriage 30, the operator can eflect both lateral shifting of the carriage 30 and movement of a cigarette carton against the web and heater bar in substantially a single band movement. Thus, following placement of a carton in the trough portion 31, the operator by exerting hand pressure on the carton in a lateral or sidewise direction causes lateral movement of the carriage 30 to the desired position and immediately thereafter by exerting rearward hand pressure on the carton the operator engages the carton with the web and heater bar.

After the second carton has been stamped and removed from the trough portion 31, the carriage 30 is again shifted to cause the roller 111 to seat in the last slot When so positioned, the next adjacent set of stamps, indicated at 500, will be in alignment with the pads 72 in readiness for affixation to another carton of cigarettes.

After the third and last set of stamps 50c have been affixed to a carton of cigarettes, no stamps will be left on the two rows and it is then necessary for the operator to shift the web to bring two new rows of stamps into alignment with the pads 72 in order to permit the stamping of three more cartons. Thus, the web 51 is disengaged from the pegs 61 and advanced to bring the next two rows of stamps into alignment with the pads 72. The web is retained in such position by causing the pegs 61 to project through the next set of perforations 62 at the side edges of the web.

With the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that it is desirable to maintain the web 51 under tension, and particularly the vertically extending portion 63, in order to assure alignment of the stamps 50 with the pads 72. It is also desirable to effect a positive release or withdrawal of the web from the hot pads 72 upon the completion of a stamping operation and removal of the stamped carton of cigarettes. Thus, according to the present invention, the machine 10 includes means for tensioning the web 51 and particularly the vertical portion 63, in the form of a laterally extending floating tension bar 115 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). The floating tension bar 115 is mounted at its ends in vertically extending slots 116 in the side walls 43 of the tray portion 32 so that the bar 115 rides on top of the generally horizontal portion of the Web 51 just rearwardly of the guide roll 56 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. Because the upper end of the vertical portion 63 is retained by the pegs 61, and because the roll 48 is not freely rotatable due to the frictional engagement between the roll 48 and the bottom and intermediate walls 42 and 46, respectively, the weight of the tension bar 115 will maintain the portion 63 under tension. Thus, upon withdrawal of a stamped carton of cigarettes, the bar 115 provides the aforementioned aligning and snap release action of the web from the heater pads 72.

When a roll of stamps has been used up and it is necessary to install another roll in the compartment 47, the floating tension bar 115 is shifted upwardly in the slots 116 and then forwardly into offset horizontal slot portions 117 (FIGS. 1 and 4) where the bar is retained in a position out of contact with the web 51. Such posi tion of the bar is indicated in dotted lines at 115 in FIG. 4. After a new roll of stamps has been mounted in the compartment 47 and the free end of the web threaded around the rolls 56 and 57', the tension bar 115 is shifted rearwardly in the offset slot portions 117 and permitted to rest on top of the web to tension the latter.

Prior to each stamping operation, each carton of cigarettes C is opened to expose the ends of the packages of cigarettes 35. This may be done manually or by means of one of the commercially available types of carton opening devices. Once opened, the longer and shorter width flaps, indicated at 118 and 119 (FIG. 4), respectively, of a carton are folded back into engagement with the lower and upper sides, indicated at 120 and 121, respectively, of the carton with the longer flap 118 engaging the bottom Wall 37 of the trough 31.

After the carton has been stamped, it is desirable to reseal the carton before shipment to retail outlets. Accordingly, the trough portion 31 of the carriage 30' includes means for regluing the previously separated carton flaps 118 and 119. Such means in the present instance comprises a glue pot in the form of a shallow tray or dish 123 carried on the underside of the bottom wall 37 and spaced somewhat forwardly thereof. The glue pot 123 is retrnovably mounted on the bottom wall 37 of the trough portion 31 by means of a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending arms 124 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are secured to the undersurface of the bottom wall 37 as by spot welding or riveting. The arms 124 include downwardly offset portions 126- which are adapted to receive and support laterally outwardly extending flanges 127 formed from the material of the side walls of the glue pot 123. The glue pot 123 is thus detachably carried immediately below and somewhat forwardly of the edge of the bottom wall 37.

Application of glue to the inner surface of the flap 118 upon withdrawal of a stamped carton of cigarettes is achieved by a pair of spaced rollers 128 which are secured to a laterally extending shaft 129. The shaft 129 is rotatably mounted at its ends in the side walls of the glue pot housing 123 and the rollers 128 have a diameter somewhat less than the spacing between the lower surface of the bottom wall 37 and the bottom of the glue pot 123 so the upper peripheries of the rollers 128 are substantially tangent to the plane of the upper surface of the bottom wall 37. Thus, upon withdrawal of a stamped carton C, the flap 118 will engage the rollers 128 which rotate to apply two strips of glue to the flap. Thereafter the flap 118 may be folded over the flap 119 to reseal the carton. The glue pot 123 may be readily removed from the carriage 30 for purposes of cleaning or refilling by shifting the glue pot forwardly until the flanges 127 become disengaged from the arms 126.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention which differs from the embodiment of FIGS. l9 in that the shiftable carriage combines the cigarette carton support with the heater bar (rather than with the web support) and the support for the stamp roll and web is stationary (rather than the heater bar). Otherwise, the structure is the same in principle, and the same relative lateral movement between the heating pads and the tax stamps is provided as in the first-described embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the machine has a base 131 having secured thereto in fixed relation a stationary support 132 for the tax stamp roll and web. The support 132 has a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises a pair of spaced upright sides 133 interconnected by a bottom portion 134 which is attached to the base 131. The sides 133 have rearwardly extending side wall portions 136 interconnected by an end wall 137 and an intermediate wall 138 so as to define a compartment 139 for receiving a tax stamp roll 141 in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. l9. The sides 133 also have forwardly extending portions 142 for journaling a web guide roller 143. A curved guide or baffle 144 having pegs 146 is mounted in fixed relation on the support 132 by means of a pair of integral rearwardly bent brackets or strap portions 147 secured to the upper ends of the sides 133.

The shiftable carriage of the machine comprises a laterally extending plate 148 having downturned end flange portions 149, the latter being rigidly secured to a pair of housings or enclosures 151 and 152 which are similar to the housings 13 and 14 of the FIGS. 1-9 embodiment except that they are not secured to the base 131. A pair of end wall elements 153 and 154 are rigidly aflixed in laterally spaced relation on the plate '148 and project forwardly beyond the housings 151-152 to define a carton-receiving trough 156. A heater bar 157 having a plurality of projecting heating pads 158 is mounted between the housings 151-152 rearwardly of the trough 156 and below the guide 144, the heater bar having the same general structure as heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 1-9.

For shiftably supporting the carriage, the enclosures 151 and 152 are rigidly interconnected at their lower ends by a pair of forward and rear cylindrical slide bars 159 and 161, respectively. The bars 159 and 161 extend into the housings 151 and 152 and are secured thereto by end screws 162. The slide bar 159 is slidably sup ported in a pair of tubular bearings 163 and 164 which are mounted in fixed relation on the base 131 by means of a pair of inverted U-shaped brackets or yokes 166. The slide bar 161 is likewise slidably supported in a pair of bearings 167 secured to the base 131 by brackets 168. Thus, the carriage assembly, including the trough 156, the heater bar 157, the enclosures 151 and 152, and the slide bars 159 and 161, is laterally movable as a unit relative to the base 131 and the support 132 carried thereon.

The web, designated in broken lines at 169 with the tax stamps 171 thereon, extends from the supply roll 141 over the upper edge of the wall 138, across a guide roll 172 journaled between the side wall portions 136, under the bar 161 and the guide roller 143, upwardly through an elongated slot 173 in the plate 148, and thence rearwardly over the curved bafiie 144. The side wall portions 136 are provided with slots 174 for accommodating a floating tension bar 176 which rests on top of the Web 169, thereby tensioning the latter in the same manner as in the first-described embodiment of the invention. The vertically extending web portion, designated at 177, is thus disposed in spaced relation forwardly of the heating pads 158 for engagement and deflection by a carton of cigarettes inserted in the trough 156, in the same general manner previously described. The carriage is shifted laterally to effect selective positioning of the c-arton and the heater bar 157 relative to the web 169, and indexing of the carriage in the three selected positions is accomplished, in this instance, by providing three spaced circumferential grooves 178 in the slide bar 159 and a spring-pressed detent 179 in the bearing 163 for engagement with the grooves 178. Thus, the carriage is releasably retained in the desired positions by coaction between the detent 179 and the grooves 178 but is readily movable by hand from one position to another.

The general manner of operation of the embodiment of FIGS. and 11 will be understood from the previous description.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various modifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A manually operable machine for simultaneously applying a group of heat releasable indicia to a plurality of sideby-side articles from an elongated web having said indicia arranged on one side thereof in transverse rows, said machine comprising elongated transfer means including a plurality of discrete aligned heating areas, the number of indicia in a row being a small multiple of the number of said heating areas, web support means for mounting a Web supply roll and positioning a deflectable portion of the web across said transfer means with the opposite side of the web facing said heating areas, and a carriage mounted for manual shifting movement to different indicia-applying positions l-ongtudinally of said transfer means, said carriage including an article support adapted to hold articles in position to be moved manually along said support into engagement with said deflectable web portion at said one side of said web for deflecting the web against said heating areas and thereby effecting heat release application of selected indicia from the web to the articles, and one of said transfer means and said web support means being mounted on said carriage for unitary movement with said article support relative to the other of said means whereby to eflect alignment of different groups of indicia with said heating areas in the different positions of said carriage.

2. The machine of claim 1 further characterized by the provision of a base, said transfer means being mounted in fixed relation on said base, and said carriage being shiftably mounted on said base and including said web support means.

3. The machine of claim 2 further characterized in that said transfer means comprises an elongated heater and said heating areas comprise a plurality of forwardly projecting heat-applying pads, said article support extending f-orwardlv from said carriage at one side of said heater, said web support means including a web supply portion extending rerrwardly from said carriage at the opposite side of said heater and adapted to contain a supply roll of said web, and said web support means also including web-engaging means for positioning a vertical length of said web across said heater at said one side thereof.

4. The machine of claim 3 further characterized in that said pads have aligned outer heating surfaces disposed substantially vertically, said article support having a horizontal article-supporting surface extending outwardly from said heating surfaces, and said web-engaging means positoning said vertical length of said web between said article-supporting surface and said heating surfaces in slightly spaced relation from the latter, whereby articles disposed on said horizontal article-supporting surface are adapted to be moved manually therealong into engagement with said length of web for deflecting the latter against said heating surfaces.

5. The machine of claim 1 further characterized by the provision of a base having said other means mounted thereon in fixed relation with said carriage being shiftably mounted thereon and indexing means coacting between said carriage and said base for releasably retaining said carraige in said indicia-applying positions.

6. The machine of claim 3 further characterized in that said article support comprises a forwardly extending trough portion and said web supply portion comprises a rearwardly extending tray portion, and indexing means is provided coacting between said base and said tray portion for releasably retaining said carriage in said indiciaapplying positions.

7. The machine of claim 3 further characterized by the provision of indexing means comprising means on said base defining a plurality of laterally spaced recesses and a roller mounted on said carriage for movement into said recesses, said roller being successively disposable in each of said recesses to index said carriage in said indicia-applying positions.

8. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said web support means comprises a web supply portion spaced from said transfer means and adapted to contain a supply roll of said Web, a first guide roll disposed Ibetween said web supply portion and said transfer means, a second guide roll generally underlying said transfer means, and web guide means disposed in spaced relation above said second guide roll, said web extend-ing forwardly from said supply roll over said first guide roll, under said second guide roll, and thence vertically upwardly across said transfer means in spaced relation therefrom to a position engaging said web guide means.

9. The machine of claim 8 further characterized in that said web guide means comprises a shield extending over said transfer means, said shield having upstanding pegs adjacent the edges thereof, said pegs being adapted to extend through spaced perforations in the margins of said web for retaining the latter on said shield.

10. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said web support means normally positions said deflectable portion of the web in spaced relation from said transfer means, and said web support means includes tensioning means for applying tension to said deflectable portion of the web whereby, after deflection of the web against said heating areas, said web is automatically retracted from said heating areas.

11. The machine of claim 10 further characterized in that said tensionin'g means comprises a floating tension bar loosely monnted on said web support means and normally engaging a portion of said web for yielda'bly tensioning the latter.

12. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said web support means includes means for supporting a portion of said web extending generally horizontally from said supply roll beneath said transfer means and thence vertically upwardly across said transfer means, we'b guide and retaining means disposed above said transfer means for releasably retaining the upper end of said web, and web tens-ionin'g means comprising a transverse tension bar extending across and adapted to overlie and engage said generally horizontally extending portion of said web, said web support means having slot means loosely receiving the ends of said tension bar whereby the weight of said tension bar is imposed on the web for tensioning the latter between said supply roll and said Web guide and retaining means.

13. The machine of claim 3 further characterized by the provision of a pair of spaced upright standards on said base, said heater extending between and being supported by said standards, a support bar extending between said standards forwardly of said heater and having said carriage slidably supported thereon, and roller means mounted on said carriage and rollably engaging said base.

14. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said transfer means comprises a heater bar, a removable heater element operatively associated with said heater bar and engageable with said heater bar for heating the latter upon the application of current to said element, and manually releasable retaining means coopera'ble between said heater bar and said heater element for pressing the latter into contact with said heater bar.

15. The machine of claim 14 further characterized in that said heater bar is channel-shaped in cross section, and said heater element is nested within said channel to facilitate heat conduction from said element to said bar.

16. The machine of claim 15 further characterized in that said heater element has a thickness less than the internal length of the flanges of said channel-shaped heater bar, and said releasable retaining means comprises at least one pin means extending across said channel between theflan ges thereof and engaging said heater element to hold the latter nested in said barv 17. The machine of claim 16 further characterized in that a plurality of said pin means are rotatably mounted in said flanges along the length of said bar, each of said pin means being provided with a cam portion movable into engagement with said heater element upon rotation 12 of the pin means, said heater element being removable from said heater bar by longitudinal shifting of the heater element relative to said bar.

18. The machine of claim 1 further characterized by the provision of a base, said web support means being mounted in fixed relation on said base, and said carriage being shiftalbly mounted on said base and including said transfer means.

19. The machine of claim 18 further characterized in that said carriage comprises a pair of spaced upright members, elongated slide bar means rigidly interconnecting said members, and bearing means mounted on said base and slidably supporting said slide bar means, said transfer means comprising an elongated heater bar extending between and secured to said members, and said article support also extending between and being secured to said members.

20. The machine of claim 19 [further characterized by the provision of indexing means comprising groove means in said slide bar means and detent means in said bearing means coopera-ble with said groove means for releasably retaining said carriage in said indicia-applyinvg positions.

No references cited.

ALEXANDER WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

W. A. POWELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MANUALLY OPERABLE MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A GROUP OF HEAT RELEASABLE INDICIA TO A PLURALITY OF SIDE-BY-SIDE ARTICLES FROM A NA ELONGATED WEB HAVING SAID INDICIA ARRANGED ON ONE SIDE THEREOF IN TRANSVERSE ROWS, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING ELONGATED TRANSFER MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DESCRETE ALIGNED HEATING AREAS, THE NUMBER OF INDICIA IN A ROW BEING A SMALL MULTIPLE OF THE NUMBER OF SAID HEATING AREAS, WEB SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOUNTING A WEB SUPPLY ROLL AND POSITIONING A DEFLECTABLE PORTION OF THE WEB ACROSS SAID TRANSFER MEANS WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WEB FACING SAID HEATING AREAS, AND A CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOR MANUAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT TO DIFFERENT INDICIA-APPLYING POSITIONS LONGTUDINALLY OF SAID TRANSFER MEANS, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING AN ARTICLE SUPPORT ADAPTED TO HOLD ARTICLES IN POSITION TO BE MOVED MANUALLY ALONG SAID SUPPORT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DEFLECTABLE WEB PORTION AT SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID WEB FOR DEFLECTING THE WEB AGAINST SAID HEATING AREAS AND THEREBY EFFECTING HEAT RELEASE APPLICATION OF SELECTED INDICIA FROM THE WEB TO THE ARTICLES, AND ONE OF SAID TRANSFER MEANS AND SAID WEB SUPPORT MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR UNITARY MOVEMENT WITH SAID ARTICLE SUPPORT RELATIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID MEANS WHEREBY TO EFFECT ALIGNMENT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF INDICIA WITH SAID HEATING AREAS IN THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF SAID CARRIAGE. 